Notes on Stolen Heart:
The Northern Lands: The elves of the Northern Lands are fairly reclusive, so I am surprised that there is a copy of their legends anywhere outside their territory. But, according to Gahila, their legend is just as ancient as the one from the Shashka desert. According to their legend, the Bearer is always a lost soul in need of salvation himself. They believe that Etienne chooses the Bearer in order to purify their hearts through the responsibilities of carrying souls, literally in ones’ hands. The elves seem to take a much more spiritual approach to the legend. I never thought about why someone would be given such a responsibility. But why would Etienne choose someone of even slight ill repute? I suppose Etienne knows what he is doing, but to purify someone by placing them in charge of other people’s lives seems ridiculous and dangerous. The elves must place an immense amount of trust in Etienne, at least far more than I do. Gahila wrote that the elves focus a lot on why things are the way they are. So they are trying to explain why such an artifact would even exist. That is a very intriguing question: why would an artifact with such great power exist? I suppose it is no more powerful than the Divine Sisters. But that brings the question again: why do those exist either? Why risk such power getting into the wrong hands? If all three have been here as long as legends say, then simply being sent as a momentary boost to defeat an evil is not the reason. Besides, I have never heard a legend of the Golden Dagger being used to defeat evil, at least nothing like what the Divine Sisters have done for the elves. It is an interesting thing to think about, I just did not realize the elves of the Northern Lands concerned themselves with it so much. Maybe it has to do with their record number of seers being born to their land, especially with the power of the current one.
The 24th Day of the 9th Moon
Lessons are to start again soon. I am not looking forward to it. Franklin is showing me how to fight with daggers now. It is very interesting. I always thought daggers were the weapons of thieves and crooks, but the speed and maneuverability far exceeds that of my sword. It is extremely difficult to master, but I watched Franklin spar with one of the guards while the guard was standardly equipped with a sword and a buckler and Franklin was equipped with only two daggers. The footwork that was required of Franklin was entrancing. It will be a long time before I can even dream to be as good as Franklin was. He took the guard down seemingly effortlessly even though they were fighting for a fairly long time. By the end Franklin was only breathing slightly heavier while the guard was gasping for air. I do hope I can one day even be partly as good as Franklin. The little bit he did go over with me was dreadfully difficult. Franklin keeps reassuring me that I will get better, but only time and practice will tell.
Tomorrow I plan on visiting Cherish’s father’s orchard. Franklin suggested that I should “see if I can hand select some fruits for the palace.” Oh I do hope this works. Franklin said he would also bring me appropriate clothing, whatever that means. I cannot wait to see her again!
